Italian commercial network Mediaset has begun talks with public broadcaster RAI over plans to run a free digital satellite offer that would complement the existing DTT packages.

The Italian ‘freesat’ would use the Eutelsat Hot Bird neighbourhood at 13 degrees East where the two broadcasters channels have been relayed for many years. Both sets of channels, including RAI Uno, RAI Due, Rete 4 and Canale 5 are broadcast in the clear.

News of the talks follows the collapse of negotiations between Mediaset and Sky Italia over the sale of movie rights.